Shloka 54

बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle

Devanagari script

ततः खट्वां समारूढमंधकारपटेन सा । आच्छादयित्वा योगेन तामसेन च माधवम्

Transliteration

tataḥ khaṭvāṃ samārūḍhamaṃdhakārapaṭena sā | ācchādayitvā yogena tāmasena ca mādhavam

Translation

Then she mounted the bier and, by a tamasic yogic power, covered Mādhava (Viṣṇu) with a curtain of darkness, veiling his perception.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); temporal adverb ‘then/thereafter’

• khaṭvām: bed, cot
• khaṭvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṭvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• samārūḍham: mounted/placed upon
• samārūḍham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (क्त; past passive participle), Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); qualifies mādhavam (understood)

• andhakārapaṭena: with a cloth of darkness
• andhakārapaṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhakāra + paṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ācchādayitvā: having covered
• ācchādayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√chad (छद् धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा; absolutive/gerund), ‘having covered’

• yogena: by (her) yogic power
• yogena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); instrumental of means

• tāmasena: dark, tamasic
• tāmasena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); qualifies yogena

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); conjunction

• mādhavam: Mādhava (the beloved)
• mādhavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Madhava)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights āvaraṇa—spiritual obscuration—where tamas veils clear discernment. In a Shaiva Siddhānta lens, bondage is sustained by obscuring forces, and liberation requires the removal of darkness through right knowledge and Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The episode underscores that even exalted beings can be covered by deluding power; hence devotees take refuge in Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship, seeking protection, clarity, and the dispelling of inner darkness (tamas) by Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tamas-śamana: steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), wearing Rudrākṣa, and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with prayer for the removal of mental darkness and restoration of sattvic clarity.